MI5 has had to scale back its counter-terrorism efforts in response to rising threats from hostile states, according to the agency’s head, Ken McCallum.
In a recent interview, McCallum explained that with limited resources, MI5 must make difficult decisions on how to allocate its efforts. The focus has shifted as aggressive activities from countries like Russia, China, and Iran increasingly demand attention.
Tough Choices Amid Growing State Aggression
McCallum stated that the days of “holiday” from large-scale state conflicts are over, with the return of major powers engaging in sophisticated and aggressive actions. As a result, MI5 has had to reallocate resources to meet these evolving challenges.
The MI5 chief also highlighted the sharp increase in state-related threat investigations, with a 48% rise over the past year. Additionally, he warned about the growing influence of extremist online content, which has led to more minors being investigated for terrorism-related activities.
